NEWS

August 20, 2014 | Toy Industry Association (TIA) member Toys“R”Us has published the 20th anniversary edition of its Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, a complimentary shopping guide for parents, caregivers and other gift-givers in search of appropriate toys for children with special needs.

Available in both English and Spanish at Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide, as well as online at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled, the 63-page Guide is packed with everyday playthings selected for their unique ability to help kids build critical skills – such as creative, emotional and cognitive skills – through play. Skill-building icons are paired with each featured toy to help parents select the most developmentally appropriate toys for their kids.

All of the toys in the Guide were vetted in partnership with the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible for children of all abilities. The National Lekotek Center also prepared a list of “Top Ten Tips for Buying Toys” and “Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs,” included in the Guide as an additional resource for parents.

The Guide’s 2014 cover features baseball World Champion, father, and special needs advocate Albert Pujols, who appears on the cover alongside Cameron Withers, a five-year-old boy from Southern California. As the parent of a daughter with Down syndrome, Pujols is an advocate for children with special needs through the Pujols Family Foundation.

“As a proud dad to my beautiful daughter, Bella, who lives with Down syndrome, I understand how important it is to have resources like the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids to help in making informed choices to support a child's development. And, as a professional athlete, I truly value the importance of play and recognize the impact it has in the lives of children who face everyday challenges – for these kids, playtime is not just about fun, it's an opportunity to explore their strengths and experience success in reaching each new milestone,” said Pujols in a press release.

“For two decades, the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids has been a valuable resource for parents looking to find toys that help build specific skills for their children,” said Kathleen Waugh, chair of the Toys“R”Us Children's Fund. “We're honored to partner with Albert Pujols in our goal to bring joy to children of all abilities. Toys“R”Us has a long-standing commitment to ensuring tools like the Guide are accessible and available for parents and children everywhere.”

The Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids has been published annually since 1994. It can be viewed online at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled